Refrigerated display cases



March 6, 1956 c, KRASNER ET AL 2,737,029

REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASES Filed Aug. 4, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. FRED G. KRASNER MILTO N M. GRAUPE 3. V 51.93- fifdm TTORNE Y5.

March 6, 1956 F. c. KRASNER ETAL 2,737,029

REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASES Filed Aug. 4, 1952 5 She'etS-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. FRED c. KRASNER MILTO M. GRAUPE ATTORNEYS.

March 6, 1956 KRASNER ETAL 2,737,029

REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASES Filed Aug. 4, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FRED c: KRASNER MILTON GRAUPE W2 4, fiW.

ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASES Fred C. Krasner and Milton M. Graupe, Chicago, Ill.

Application August 4, 1952, Serial No. 302,514

7 Claims. (Cl. 62-89.5)

Our invention relates to display cases for chilled foods, pastries and the like, and more particularly to such cases as are of a small or portable size. This type of case may be positioned handily on the back counter of a lunchroom, drug store fountain or confectionery store, where it is out of the way, yet in prominent view. While such cases are used for the display of pics, cakes and other confections under refrigeration and in full view of patrons approaching or seated before the serving counter, the facilities for supplying such cases with refrigeration are generally remotely situated or quite involved. It is thus impracticable to install a portable display case in places where space does not permit the additional placement of a refrigeration unit or connections from the same to the display case. In view of this situation, it is one object of the present invention to provide a portable type of food display case which contains its own refrigeration unit and is therefore a complete piece of equipment.

A further object is to design the novel display case with two divisions, one being in front as a display compartment, and the other in the rear as a refrigerator.

Another object is to construct the display case in a manner to apply refrigeration to the food compartment to the best advantage and with a compact arrangement.

An additional object is to design the refrigeration space in a manner to accommodate the units of a conventional refrigerating mechanism with the best structural and functional advantages.

A still further object is to employ a minimum number of parts in the display case consistent with efficient service and durability.

With the above objects in view, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the display case from the front;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the display case from the rear and partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3 on a reduced scale, and omitting a certain insulation jacket;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail section on the line 66 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a group perspective view of the parts entering into the upper front construction of the display case;

Fig. 8 is a similar view in respect to the'upper righthand frontal corner of the display case;

Fig. 9 is a similar view in respect to the medial righthand portion; and

Fig. 10 is a similar view in respect to the bottom portion.

The display case is made up largely of sheet metal components arranged and fitted in a manner to combine a smooth and neat exterior with properly positioned and reinforced internal elements. Thus, the base of the display case consists of a large sheet which has an upright back flange 16. The case also has a top sheet which extends further back than the bottom sheet 15, terminating with a down-turned back flange 21. The case alsohas a pair of side walls 23, these being formed with top and bottom inturned flanges 24 on the latter of which the base sheet 15 is secured by soldering or other suitable means. The top sheet 20 has a frontal down-turned flange 25, while a special flange 27 is provided at the bottom in front of the base sheet 15, the flange 27 having a bottom bend 28 underneath the lower side flanges 24. The bend 28 receives a pair of rubber feet 30 in front, while the side flanges 24 receive a similar pair of feet 31 at the rear, so that the case is in this manner supported at all four corners in raised position over a counter or other. surface on which it may be positioned.

As previously mentioned, the display case is designed with a frontal compartment for food display and with a rear compartment for a refrigerating unit. However, the partitioning of the case for this purpose is not practicable by means of a single partition or dividing wall, and two such means 35 and 36 are therefore provided. The wall 35 is in front and constitutes the back limit of the food compartment. Such wall is of sheet metal and has a top forward continuation 37 extending to a point meeting the down flange 25, While a similar continuation 38 is formed at the bottom to terminate with an offset 39 continued with a cross-strip 40 interposed between such bend and the frontal sheet 27. While the top, bottom and back of the frontal compartment is thus made in a single piece, side walls 41 for the compartment are provided which are soldered at the top and bottom to the continuations 37 and 38, respectively, to complete the sides of the frontal compartment. The front of this compartment is made with a set of sliding glass doors 42 and 43 of conventional design, guide means 44 and 45 being provided for such doors.

The space between the frontal compartment of the display case and the partition 36 is generally filled with a heat-insulating substance 50 which may be Fiberglas or any other approved type. However, before such insulation is applied, a set of refrigeration coils 51 is laid against the back wall 35 of the food compartment and an insulation jacket 53 fitted between and behind the coils in order to confine the chilling effect of the same to the metallic back wall 35 and retard the dissipation of the refrigeration in a rearward direction.

While the partition 36 forms a retainer for the insulating substance 50, means are provided for holding such substance firm, such means also retaining a shelf group in the frontal display case compartment. The shelves are indicated at 55, and are provided with hooks 56 which fit them at desired heights to a pair of channel-shaped standards 57, these and the shelves being of conventional construction. However, in the present case bolts 58 are directed from the upper and lower portions of the standards 57 through the back wall 35, a pair of spacer columns 59, which are shown broken away in places, jacket 53 and partition 36 to receive securing nuts 6% behind the same, the bolts serving to clamp the parts between them into a compact and firm assembly.

The space behind the partition 36 is devoted to the installation of a refrigeration assembly. While the parts of this assembly are of standard design, their arrangement is unique and intended to combine compactness with functional eificiency. Thus, the partition 36 first receives brackets 61 for an electrical compressor unit 62 positioned at one side of the refrigeration compartment, while a static condenser 64 is positioned at the opposite side and supported from the partition 36 by brackets 65.

- The connections of the refrigerator will be briefly described as conduits 67, 68 and 69, an accumulator 70, a strainer 71, a capillary tube 72, and a cover 73 for refrigeration and control connections.

Patented Mar. 6,1956

Also, a thermostatic manual control is indicated at 75 and a rubber spacer 76, the latter being intended to space the display case from a room wall which may occur behind it, for purposes of ventilation. It is noted that the condenser 64 is tilted rearwardly toward the top, the purpose of this construction being to allow more space between the partition 36 and the condenser as warm air rises from below and expands, whereby to promote the dispersion thereof.

Since the refrigeration compartment in the rear of the display case is a sheet metal enclosure, means are provided to reinforce it at the top and sides. Thus, Figs. 2 and 3 show that the rear compartment has a pair of inturned side flanges 885, these being overlapped by the top rear flange 21. The top sheet 2i and rear flange 21 are reinforced by a long channel member 82 from underneath, such member having a rear down flange 83 and a similar frontal flange 8d, the latter being secured to the partition 36 by screws 85. Similarly, a pair of vertical channel members 99 are nested on the inner sides of the side Walls 23 at the rear of the display case, Fig. 2 showing that each member 94 has rear inturned flange 92 abutting the flange Si) and secured thereto by screws 93; and each channel member also has a frontal flange 95 which is secured to the partition 36 by screws 96. The ear compartment is thus reinforced at the top and sides. Also, while such compartment is open at the bottom throughout its length, the top sheet and channel member 82 are formed with an array of registering openings 98 in order to allow circulation of fresh air from the bottom of the case through the rear compartment and top thereof, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 3.

It will now be apparent that the novel display case has a number of advantageous mechanical and functional features. Thus, the frontal enclosure 353738 is a single sheet without joints at the rear or bottom, and does not therefore offer any cracks or crevices where food particles, dust or vermin may enter or accumulate. Further, an assembly of the food display compartment and refrigeration compartment is provided back-to-back, so to speak, so that these compartments are compactly arranged and do not lend the display case any undue depth or excessive size. Further, while the two compartments are separated by a necessary filling or layer of heat insulation, means are also provided to interpose a special layer or jacket of insulation in intimate relation with the refrigerating coils, in order that these may chill the frontal compartment to an eflicient degree. Further, the arrangement just described also includes solid spacing means and clamping means to firmly bind the frontal and rear compartments to each other, rendering the case durable not only over a long period of use but under stresses of moving, shipment or vibration. Further, a rear compartment is provided which compactly and efficiently accommodates the necessary units for producing refrigeration, rendering the display case self-contained in all respects. Further, means are provided for the rear compartment to reinforce its top and sides by simple channel members which still leave a maximum amount of room within the rear compartment. Further, the rear compartment is favorably designed for the mounting of the static condenser with the tilt described for reasons of efficiency, as stated above, the top and bottom openings of the compartment cooperating with the condenser in this respect. Finally, the novel display case is to all appearances a compact and portable facility which needs no outside connections other than the usual current supply cord, presents an attractive exterior, and conceals all suggestion of any mechanism from the observer.

While we have described tie invention along specific lines, various minor changes or refinements may be made therein without departing from its principle, and we re serve the right to employ all such changes and refinements as may come within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A refrigerator adjunct for the frontal food compartment of a display case comprising a refrigerator machine compartment applied behind said food compartment, a heat-insulation unit between the compartments, a refrigerating coil along the rear side of said food compartment, and means for clamping the compartments together, said unit having a backing sheet, a top sheet overlying the food compartment in spaced relation and having a terminal downflange at the rear of the display case, and spacing means between said backing sheet and downflange, said top sheet and spacing means being perforated for the upward escape of warm air from said refrigerator machine compartment.

2. A refrigerator adjunct for the frontal food compartment of a display case comprising a refrigerator machine compartment applied behind said food compartment, 21 heat-insulation unit between the compartments, a refrigerating coil along the rear side of said food compartment, and means for clamping the compartments together, said unit having a backing sheet, a top sheet overlying the food compartment in spaced relation and having a terminal downflange at the rear of the display case, a channelshaped top member extending over the refrigerating compartment next underneath said top sheet, the wings of said member abutting said backing sheet and downflange, respectively, to constitute the member a spacing unit,

and said top sheet and member having a series of registering perforations for the upward escape of warm air from the refrigerator machine compartment.

3. A refrigerator adjunct for the frontal food compartment of a display case comprising a refrigerator machine compartment applied behind said food compartment, a heat-insulation unit between the compartments, a refrigcrating coil along the rear side of said food compartment, and means for clamping the compartments together, said unit having a backing sheet, a top sheet overlying the food compartment in spaced relation and extending to the rear of the display case, side Walls of the latter having inturned flanges, and vertical channel-shaped members in the refrigerator machine compartment and lining said side walls, the wings of said members abutting said backing sheet and flanges, respectively, whereby to constitute the members as spacers for such backing sheet and flanges.

4. A refrigerator adjunct for the frontal food compartment of a display case comprising a refrigerator machine compartment applied behind said food compartment, a heat-insulation unit between the compartments, a refrigerating coil along the rear side of said food compartment, and means for clamping the compartments together, said food compartment also having top and bottom heatinsulating units, a top sheet extending over the upper heat-insulating unit and the refrigerator machine compartment, the display case being equipped with feet to raise it off a supporting surface, and the. bottom of the refrigerator machine compartment being open for the entrance of fresh air from the space under the display case and the upward travel and warming of such fresh air through the refrigerator machine compartment, said top sheet being formed with perforations for the escape of the warmed air.

5. A refrigerator adjunct for the frontal food compartment of a display case comprising a refrigerator machine compartment applied behind said food compartment, a heat-insulation unit between the compartments, a refrigerating coil along the rear side of said food compartment, and means for clamping the compartments together, the back of the refrigerator machine compartment being open, and the refrigeration apparatus including a static condenser, said heat-insulating unit having a backing sheet, and said static condenser being rearwardly inclined toward the top in respect to said backing sheet, whereby to allow the expansion of rising air in the space between the condenser and the backing sheet.

6. A refrigerator adjunct for the frontal food compartment of a display case comprising a refrigerator machine compartment applied behind said food compartment, 8. heat-insulation unit between the compartments, a refrigerating coil along the rear side of said food compartment, a cold-retaining jacket for said coil applied to said rear side, and means for clamping the compartments and refrigerating coil together.

7. The structure of claim 6, said means comprising shelf-supporting standards in said frontal compartment said bolts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Kleist Sept. 22, 1931 Friedrich June 11, 1935 Philipp May 30, 1950 

